2012 Hyundai Azera

This Korean company fills another niche.

It's no secret that Hyundai is on a roll. The company has been steadily increasing its market share in virtually every segment it competes in, and along the way, it decorated its trophy case last year with the North American Car of the Year award with the Elantra. And there are no signs that the company is letting up. The latest battleground it's seeking to conquer is the large sedan market, with its target scope set on Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon and Ford Taurus. Hyundai's weapon of choice: the all-new second-generation Azera, which made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show several months ago.

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2012 Hyundai Azera

Under the hood is a new Lambda II 3.3-liter direct-injection V-6 that produces 293 bhp at 6400 rpm and 255 lb.-ft. of torque at 5200. It features aluminum block and heads, with Dual-CVVT (Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing). The power transferred to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox with a manual shift mode.

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2012 Hyundai Azera

The Azera jumps off the line commendably, with a chirp from the front P245/45R-18 tires. The 6-speed automatic transmission, the only gearbox offered, performs smooth and quick upshifts. While its performance is commendable, what's impressive is its behavior on the highway. The engine revs smoothly to redline, and the cabin stays remarkably quiet, even at speeds above 80 mph.

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2012 Hyundai Azera

Through corners, the Azera is quite impressive. For such a large car—it measures 193.3 in. from bumper to bumper and has a 112.0-in. wheelbase—it negotiates tight corners like a compact. The suspension system—MacPherson struts up front and multilink at rear—does a good job of keeping ride motions in check, though there is a fair amount of body roll through corners. That said, ride quality is super smooth, with compliant shocks and springs adequately soaking up road irregularities.

2012 Hyundai Azera

The car is loaded with standard equipment (and initials), including nine airbags, VSM, ESC, TCS and ABS. Hyundai claims the Azera gets 23 mpg combined (20/29 mpg city/highway). The car will reach dealer showrooms in March with a base price of $32,000.

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